Patti Grosenick - Help With a Heart

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Mary L. Hobert

If you are reading this, you are considering the possibility of hiring Patti Grosenick, operator of Help With A Heart. Congratulations! You are on the right track!

I met Patti seven years ago when my family needed a part-time caregiver for my aging parents and my two mentally disabled brothers. I couldn't have asked for a more caring, dependable person to nurture my family. It didn't take Patti long to determine their needs, and she assumed the job with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

My parents had been accustomed to being in charge of their family, and it wasn't easy for them to accept Patti into their home, especially when she was doing the work that "belonged to them." They didn't see that they really could no longer do the work. So Patti, with characteristic good humor, won them over, and before long they were all working together happily.

Both my parents had types of dementia. My mom's was the slow growing kind where she slipped little by little for about 10 years until her death. My dad's dementia came on more suddenly, over a period fo a year or two, with small strokes that affected his memory. It was quite a feat to bring happiness and cooperation to a household that was in fear of change… fear of end of life experience for my parents, and fear of the future without our parents for my brothers. It would take a book length report to tell you the many incredible ways that Patti served my family. As I write this, I'm flooded with memories of the kitchen smelling like freshly baked cookies because Patti granted my brothers with to "make some cookies, Patti!" She would bring fresh flowers in the summer because she knew mom loved a colorful bouquet. Fall would usually bring a bushel of apples, with mom and Patti wielding "peelers," and before long the cabinet would be lined with quarts of pints of freshly canned applesauce! Patti knew that mom loved to read, but her eyes became weak in time, so Patti would read her favorite books to her, repeating lines or paragraphs when mom forgot what they said. Patience another of Patti's outstanding qualities.

Grocery list making and shopping, laundry and light cleaning, changing linens, helping my parents with their showers and personal hygiene, having a "spa day" for mom so her nails and hair would be "just right" for a special event, and even helping my brothers to shovel snow, rake leaves, and clean gutters that were included in her list of activities with my family.

(I don't think that Patti would list the last entries on her resume, but the intangible quality of love caused her to routinely go above and beyond the normal job description of "caregiver.")

I think that's really what I want you to know about Patti; she loves people and gives her all in order to feel connected to them. Her list of attributes includes, (but certainly is not limited to) honest, empathy, creativity, integrity, kindness, good organization and intuitive skills, and the ability to inspire and lead others.

Patti is a self motivator. If she accepts your work opportunity, she will do a great job. You will have a faithful, dedicated employee and a wonderful friend.

Mark Zastrow

Patti has worked with our mother, Alice, for over five years and has been a very compassionate and responsible caregiver. (For several of those years, she actually cared for both our mother and father.) At first, our mother was not the easiest person to please as she had been a homemaker for many years and was rather set in her ways as to how she wanted those things done. Patti displayed much patience with her and eventually "won" her over to where Patti was relied upon greatly.

Patti is strong willed when she needs to be, very good at getting things done, a good and caring listener, and very much an advocate for the elderly or those needing help with their daily living activities. We appreciate all the care giving, companionship, and friendship she has provided for both our mother and father. We would recommend her highly to anyone looking for an experienced, thoughtful, and compassionate caregiver.

Mary Lou Collins

Patti Grosenick has asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her. This is a particularly pleasant task for me as Patti has been caring for my parents for the last seven years. During that time Patti has shown that she is a very caring individual

She was not only an employee of the family, but became a friend not only to my father but also to my brother and myself

During the time she cared for my parents, she did a number of important tasks. She bathed, dressed, shopped, cooked, and cleaned for both of them. She also arranged and accompanied them to their various appointments.

Communication is another one of her strong points. She constantly kept us informed of their status. In addition, she always made our parents feel like they were the most important people at the time, and always listened with great concern to their stated needs.